Witnesses in Tim Ellis trial recall Mercedes in wrong lane

THREE witnesses recall seeing a blue Mercedes travelling in the wrong lane on the Midland Highway shortly before a crash that claimed the life of a Launceston woman, a court has heard.

The hearing against Director of Public Prosecutions Tim Ellis, SC, continued in the Hobart Magistrates court yesterday.

Mr Ellis has pleaded not guilty to causing death by negligent driving in a crash involving three vehicles near Spring Hill a year ago that killed 27-year-old Natalia Pearn.

It has been alleged by Crown Prosecutor John Pickering, SC, that Mr Ellis was driving south in a northern overtaking lane for up to one kilometre, and that the driving was "voluntary and conscious".

Sabina Van Ingen, who was travelling with her husband to Launceston, told magistrate Chris Webster yesterday that she saw a dark coloured Mercedes, the same it was alleged Mr Ellis was driving, coming towards her in a north- bound over taking lane.